It made sense, when they’d arrive home, and Finnian would peel the hearing aid from his right ear with a relieving sigh. After, he would retreat down to the basement and revel in the silence of his potions, while Cassian plucked a book from his shelf and entertained himself with a mortal story, granting Finnian the quiet he needed to soothe his overstimulated brain.
“You do not have to go,” Cassian said to him from the bed one evening. “Surely your apprentices would understand.”
Finnian stood beside the bed, dressing. “I know I do not, but I enjoy the time with Eleanor and Isla, as well as the tavern’s atmosphere.” His arms paused from buttoning his shirt, and he glanced back at Cassian. “I will not let Mira take that away from me.”
There it was, that fierceness of his that Cassian loved so.
And the truth was, he enjoyed the nights out as much as Finnian did. The distance from the Land and the souls and the constant decision-making was nice.
One night, they sat across from each other, with Finnian casually sipping on his pint and playing with the teal gemstone strapped around his neck. The tavern was mostly empty, and the voices were a tolerant murmur. Cassian could tell from the attentive light in Finnian’s eyes that he was unbothered by the noise level.
Eleanor and Isla had dispersed to get refills or chat with friends, leaving Cassian alone with Finnian all to himself.
“That gemstone,” Cassian said, pointing to it. “It’s where you store the souls of your ghouls, yes?”
“It’s a chrysocolla.” Finnian gave the chain a forceful tug and it snapped off his neck. “A pendant, actually. A family heirloom passed down to Mira.” He held it across the table for Cassian to inspect.
Cassian leaned forward with his pint in hand. “She gave it to you?”
“No.” Finnian laughed lightly. “I stole it.”
Cassian passed him a flat look, secretly enjoying the glimpse of his dimples. “Of course you did.”
“Since it’s been passed down through the generations, an abundance of divine energy resides within it,” he explained, that disturbing light twinkling in his gaze any time he talked about witchcraft or sorcery. “It is not so different from a relic. Items with intense divine power are limitless pools of energy to siphon from.”
A hard look passed over his face as he stared at the crystal. “The first time I used it was on Alke, after Mira murdered him. I lacked knowledge and control over my magic back then, but with the pendant and the magical properties in the water hole Naia and I used to sneak off to, I managed to revive him.”
Finnian had only told him of the memory once. It came up when Alke’s undead form appeared in his house, perched atop the stove, watching quietly as Cassian boiled water in the kettle to make himself a cup of tea. Apparently, the bird felt a semblance of trust now to show itself to Cassian, confident he would not relinquish its soul to the Land.
Cassian had thought about it, butboydenswere loyal creatures. Even if he did cast its soul back into the Land, it had the capability of traveling between realms. Their devotion to their masters triumphed over the laws of the Universe.
“That must’ve been difficult for you to endure at such an early age.” Cassian wished to reach over and grab Finnian’s hand to comfort him, but he was hesitant. They were in a tavern full of mortals, and Cassian had to remind himself, in their society, two men touching in any intimate sense could potentially attract negative attention.
Finnian ran his thumb over the pendant, lost in the memory. “It’s a myth thatboydensobey High Gods over their masters. I was convinced that was the only reason Alke answered Mira’s call that day, but then, years later, I learned I was the first of my lineage, a High God, and it didn’t make sense.”
“Aboyden, first and foremost, will do whatever is necessary to protect their master,” Cassian said.
“Precisely. Alke landed on Mira’s arm that day to keep her from abusing me.” Finnian looked up at him then, the melancholy visible in his eyes. “I have wrongs that I wish to make right—with Naia and Father. And one day, I will see to it that Mira falls as a High Goddess.”
Cassian felt a determination rise steadily in him. If setting out to make things right would bring Finnian happiness, he was willing to do everything in his power to make sure all of Finnian’s plans came to fruition.
Cassian stretched his leg out underneath the table, caressing Finnian’s ankle with his own. “I swear, the day that happens, I will ensure you are present to witness it.”
Finnian gave a weak smile and drew his attention back to the pendant. “She never attempted to find this again. I believe she was too distraught by the events that night.” The teasing lilt of his tone reappeared as he clasped the chain around his neck. The pendant rested on his sternum.
“Do you have to use the gemstone each time you revive someone?” Cassian asked. “I watched you use it the night in Augustus, when you revived the dog, but not at the cemetery…”
He realized his error when Finnian tilted his head, lips curving. “Youwerefollowing me.”
A blush nipped at Cassian’s cheeks, dismissing his previous stalkerish behavior with a wave. “That’s besides the point.”
Finnian chuckled.
“No.” He took a sip of his stein and said, “As I grew to learn more about myself as a mage, I was able to craft an incantation. Back when I was constantly running from you and your endeavors to relinquish all my souls, I’d hide them in the pendant.” Finnian took another gulp.
“Vivificais how I pull the souls straight from your Land and place them inside their physical bodies.Excitare ex somnois how I summon them from my pendant to assist me, if I am not near a graveyard or corpse. The pendant’s power helps me partially restore their physicality, giving them husks to fight in.”
Cassian ran a hand through his hair. The texture and length were not his own. Sometimes, he forgot he was under the appearance of another.
